Year One
Date: 1/5/2008 07.30
Weather: Clear blue sky
Location: Cronulla 34'03S 151'08E
Author: Peter

We have arrived back in Sydney. A little earlier than expected (in the big picture) and as a result it felt really weird sailing back into the Port Hacking. Australian registration still is not complete so overall the switch to sail to Queensland is proving to be the right decision.

We arrived at Jervis bay at 6 in the morning of the 23rd after a calm but quick ride through the night picking up a mooring once again at Hole in the Wall. After a day of resting and plainly doing nothing we moved over to Huskisson and went for a walk before picking up supplies to make chicken stuffed with brie which Kylie had seen the day before on a cooking show. It turned out to be really nice.

We had a slightly rolly night then moved over to Callala Bay as a change had been forecast and this was the best place to hide from it. Being the Anzac weekend and school holidays, there were people out and about everywhere. Allot more than we have been used to down in Tassy. We later learnt this was also probably due to the fact that it had been raining heavily for the past two weeks, the whole school holidays, and people probably just needed to get out. I think Kylie and I have been quite lucky in that we have managed to avoid rain, having only seen a few days of it over the last quarter of the year.

We spent the weekend working on hobbies, reading books, walking on the beach, collecting shells and Kylie did some fishing (not so lucky here, but there were heaps of fishing boats around so we can understand why). Alex, Rebecca and the kids came to visit us Saturday afternoon and after Alex and Jade came out to check out the boat we spent some time on the beach catching up in the afternoon warmth.

Yes we have started to notice the temperature increasing as we have come back up the coast. Especially of an evening, when we were shutting up the boat quite early in an attempt to keep the heat in only a short time ago.

On the 29th, we took advantage of a moderate south westerly and headed for Sydney. We were making great time up until Wollongong where the breeze started to swing through to the south east and became light. We arrived at Cronulla sailing club at 18.30, before heading up to the mall to get hot chips. After Dinner we un-bent the main for Neil before heading to bed.

Yesterday we both went back to work to see people which was both a surprise for them and great for us. It was really good to see every one again. Seeing we would be here for about a week while our new main gets completed I thought I would try and get some work, but being the 1st week back, no one seems to be sick, so my prospects don't look that great. Pity the money would really have come in handy. After a quick stop at Seafarer and Barracouta to check out our sail we headed back to the boat for a quiet night.

We can't wait to catch up with everybody and I look forward to seeing my family although mum and dad aren't back for another week so we will have to catch them up at Broken Bay.

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Year One
Date: 24/4/2008 13.00
Weather: On off showers and blue sky
Location: Jervis Bay 34'59S 150'43E
Author: Peter

The last few days in Hobart were spent tied up at the RYCT. After our arrival back we were once again invited to the Davis's house for dinner. I think they were just trying to remind us of how nice it would be to live in Hobart, with their stunning house, the view, the excellent food, the wonderful company and the quality of living. It really is convincing. The next morning we woke to a sumptuous breakfast before being lent a car again to do some running around. We went to the Salamanca Markets in the morning and spent the rest of the day shopping then dinner and a movie at the Eggins house, before heading back to the yacht for the night. The next day we took the car up to Mount Field National Park, to check out Russell Falls and the big tree walk. Wow, although a bit touristy, this is a must see. The big tree walk especially so. We even came across a tree 76m tall that was missing its top. The base was just huge. The forest was our first real chance to also check out Myrtle up close and personal. This is what Jura is fitted out with, and is the mother of the forest because everything else grows on it. That night we went to dinner with Nigel, Terri, John and Ces whom we met on the Flinders Cruise.

Monday we did some last minute running around and provisioning of the boat. That afternon we started to say goodbye to people which we found extremely difficult. The people of Tasmania had been so friendly a helpful, and our friends so great it brought some tears to the corners of our eye's. We were lucky enough to be invited to dinner again that evening and headed up Mount Nelson for dinner at Damiens house (the cruise commodor from the Flinders Cruise). We had a very enjoyable dinner, swapping stories and sharing photographs. The next morning we picked up the last of our provisions and sett sail about midday for Bull Bay (43 05S, 147 22E) at the mouth of the Derwent. With light breeze the next day we made our way round to Lime Bay (42 57S, 147 42E) to wait out the tide so we could get through the Dennison Canal. Tasmania put on one final great sunset for us although at the time we did not know it would be our last. After an early rise we set off through the Dennison Canal planning to stop at Wineglass Bay on the way up and await the weather there.
We set the kite and headed north.

After the next weather Forecast we decided to set sail strait for Eden as the winds were just so great. 48 hours later we were picking up Pete and Jess's new mooring (37 04S 149 54E) -which they had laid the day before, just for us, ha ha- after a south east two sail reach across a calm Bass Strait. All the people just ahead had motor sailed across. Over the next two days we were once again spoilt by Pete and Jess (her cooking really is a taste delight, and she provided us with a little going away bag- Jess, Kylie says the Pesto is lovely). We cant wait to see them again up in the Whitsundays after they pick up their boat.

On Tuesday we took advantage of some more south east breeze and once again set off under kite for Batemans Bay before changing destination again and going straight through to Jervis Bay.

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Easter Holiday Trip by Caityln(13) and Josh(8) Eggins

Thursday 20th March
Josh: Going out to Jura in the rain and sleeping in my nest for the first time when it was so stable it did not feel like being on a boat!

Friday 21st March
Caitlyn: In the morning we had a good sleep-in and a delicious breakfast od eggs benedict. Josh had a stear. We had the polr up and we were running and gybing for quite a while. Josh got tired of steering. Kylie, Josh and I had a card game marathon with uno, go fish, war, and old maid.
Josh: On Friday just after lunch we saw Adrianne out on her yacht we were sailing quite quickly and Dad turned Jura around to go back to see them again. We then turned and continued sailing towards the Bruny Island Neck. We got there and then Caitlyn, Kylie and I went fishing and caught a few flat head
Caityln: We had a nice warm pasta for tea and got really rugged up warm then we jumped in the rubber ducky, Dad, Peter, Josh and I went ashore. We walked around looking at penguin burrows, walked on the beach in search for tracks when we could not find any we decided to walk up the hill.
Josh: When Mum and kylie came ashore in the rubber duck with Peter we went up the stairs to look at the view. Mum pulled out a bag of freckles and we ate some. Then we went to the look out, we waited ages for the penguins some other people left so Caitlyn and I went to the top of the stairs and heard a noise I turned on the flash light and there was a fairypenguin. Caitlyn ran and told Mum, Dad, Peter and Kylie and they came and found three more, one was really fat!!!
Caitlyn: we got back on board really late and moved to a new anchor spot then we went to sleep after the jelly for dessert

Saturday
Caitlyn: On Saturday morning we woke up and had a few rounds of uno before everyone else woke up. After breakfast Josh got out Dads birthday present a electronic battle ship game and we started to pack up for a sail. There was no wind and therefore it was slow trip to Randalls Bay, we had nachos and were soon there.
Josh: When we went ashore Peter, mum, Caitlyn and I played a game with heavy silver balls. Whilst we played Kylie cooked a gluten free chocolate cake with chocolate icing with spinkles on top

We have just added photos from the last month cruising. Flick back through to Wednesday 5th March - Little Fancy Bay.

Also we have some movie footage of the big blow, just trying to compress it a bit.

Check out Johns tracker to see maps....http://www.juratrack.blogspot.com/

Oh yeah, we are back in Hobart at the R.Y.C.T.
We plan to leave Hobart in a few days time.

Year One
Date: 9/4/2008 18.00
Weather: A change expected
Location: Quarries Bay, Little Taylors Bay 43'21S 147'12E
Author: Peter

After anchoring in schooner cove we used the sunny afternoon to explore some of the surrounding bays. We first headed off to a waterfall around the corner. The waterfall has deep water access so some inventive people have set up some plastic tubes and mooring lines to tie up too. They have rigged a 25 litre black container to catch the water which is then funneled into a hose so you can fill up if you wished to.

We then went to check out an aboriginal ochre cave. After some initial struggle to find it, we entered the small cave asking ourselves, how can someone live in this region permanently. It just goes to show how tenacious humans can be. The cave itself had a fine clay ceiling, ranging in colour from yellow to orange. When rubbed through the fingers it had a fine texture and the colour instantly attached itself.

On the way back to the yacht we discover eight kayaker setting up camp at the end of the bay. They had just started their week tour of the area. We hope the weather remains good for the rest of their time and they all have very warm sleeping bags. Apparently one of them even went for a very brief swim(9 degrees celcius)

Yesterday we took a good weather forecasts to make our way back towards Hobart. after getting up early we had a light spinnaker run across the bottom of Tasmania until Maatsuyker Island where the breeze stoped before filling in from on the nose. Not what was forecast. We arrived in Recherche late but before midnight. The day saw plenty of seals and very large tuna leaping out of their path.

Today we made our way a short way up the channel to Little Taylors Bay (a good place to spend the night given the forecast) before heading to shore to check out some old sand stone quarries.

Tomorrow we plan to use the forecast southerly to head back to Hobart before starting preparation and provisioning for heading north.

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Year One
Date: 7/4/2008 11.00
Weather: Beautiful.
Location: Schooner Cove, Bathurst Channel 43'20S 146'00E
Author: Peter

The area surrounding Bathurst Harbour and Port Davey is a well weathered landscape. It is obvious looking at the mountainous surrounds that this area is buffeted by some extreme weather. The mountain peaks are simply scoured rock, a little lower you tend mainly to find the hills covered in button grass. The trees cling in small groves in gully's and behind cliffs while those that are exposed are crooked and gnawed (a bonsai artists dream creation). The waters, although clear, are black, like black ink, stained by the continuous tannin run off from the button grass. It can be a little eerie to travel through as the light only penetrates about 400mm into the water and you have no idea what you are about to run into when in the duck.

On Saturday, the weather finally cleared so we finally got to use the legs a bit! We spent the morning attempting to dry out the interior and do some much needed laundry. After lunch we hopped in the dinghy and motored around to Claytons Corner where the National Parks and Wildlife maintains a historical dwelling. Our first steps ashore were in a lush forest, dripping with water, a plush pile carpet of moss covering the ground, and a spongy feel to ones step. Just stunning.



While reading the visitors book in the old house we discovered another boat had been tied to the jetty we just landed on for the hurricane winds.

A walking track behind the house leads to two walks. We initially just took the short track up a small rolly hill as we were both feeling a bit lethargic. It was just a short stroll (about 20 minute return) with a view over the Bathurst Harbour and our yacht sitting off Kings Point.





The second track is a more substantial walk up to the top of Mt Beattie and after walking back to the house we thought we should just 'have a look at the state of the track' and maybe would come back tomorrow to do this walk. Having once started we just kept going and going. Up the back of a small ridge completely enclosed by the surrounding forest, across a small marsh land before emerging back out into the light on the button grass. A hour later we were at the top and grateful for our sea boots as the entire mountain was on the move, with water flowing absolutely everywhere and deep puddles along the well worn track.



Click to enlarge pic


Click to enlarge pic

On Sunday we motored over to the 'Old River' (43 19S, 146 13E) on the opposite side of Bathurst Harbour before taking the dinghy about 1 1/2 miles up the river to the first set of rapids.



We then bush bashed along an old track through dense fern undergrowth to check out a remaining stand of ship building grade huon pine and celery top. Given some of these trees were greater than 450mm in diameter that puts them at about 4500 years old. Amazing to think these have been around since before the new calendar. It is just mind boggling to even contemplate that long.




Warm lunch at the rapids


After lunch at the rapids we headed back to the yacht and back into the Bathurst Channel before anchoring at Clytie Cove (43 20s, 146 05E) for the night to the trickling sounds of three small waterfalls terminating in the bay.

Bathurst Harbour



Sunset at Clytie Cove

Mt Rugby

Monday morning saw a perfect sun rise and a crisp clear autumn day. After some routine house keeping we were back off exploring in the duck. Joan Point, the western side of the bay along with Farrell Point, its opposite shore, house a pair of 12ft row boats that the hikers using the main walking track use to cross the Bathurst Channel. In good weather it is easy to see why so many walkers would visit the area.

After lunch we once again upped anchor, on a calm and glassy afternoon and made our way a short distance further back down the Channel to Schooner Cove.

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Year One
Date: 3/4/2008 11.00
Weather: Mainly rain
Location: Kings Point, Bathurst Harbour 43'21S 146'07E
Author: Peter

Its not all plain sailing. Tired, scared, petrified, sick to the guts watching Kylie trying to stay calm but not pulling it off. I think this sums up the last two days but we need to go back to the beginning to understand.

Monday night saw an improvement in the weather and a forecast that was good to get round to Port Davey. Tuesday morning arrived clear and warmer. All seemed great so we were off, along with a 60ft sloop from the Royal. We motored out of Recherche and set sail after clearing the kelp forests. Dolphins on the bow, moving at six and half knots, one tack sail across the bottom of Tasmania and then tack at 146 55E. Up wind the wrong way through the roaring forties on a nice day. Well that was the plan anyway.

Kylie on watch, all was going great until just past Maatsuyker Island. We were ahead of schedule looking at making Port Davey well before our planed 10 hours when the breeze started to knock. Great I thought, sail into the persistent shift and then tack back earlier on a lift. So we took the knock but as we kept sailing the pressure started to increase above the predicted 25knts and much earlier than they had expected. 30knts, 35, this is not looking so good, why are we trying to head up wind in the southern ocean? Three reefs, and a corner of the jib the size of a towel to balance the boat and we are only traveling at 4.3knts and making no distance where we want to go. Its about this time our good pole tries to slide overboard after uncliping itself from its cradle. I save it just in time. But wow, just as I grab it we heel right over and I'm griping on tightly, as I know that water is cold, and my harness may keep me attached but not out of it. 42.8 knots, Its time the storm jib was up and every thing else down, a decision I wished I'd made a little earlier. We can't drop the para anchor as Tasmania is little to close (a good decision in the end given the wind later)

We tack over and start heading north, finally, but our angle is atrocious. We have knocked again with this new increase and are heading back in under Tasmania. great!! Kylie is looking a little worried. I go forwards to get the storm jib out of its locker only to discover water up to the door frames in the front cabin. Shit, is my first thought. I turn on the second bilge pump and go looking for the leak. All sorts of bad scenarios are running through my head, have we opened a seam, we have been pounding very heavily for a few hours?? No I find it quickly, I forgot to plug the anchor chain hawser before leaving (stupid, really stupid) and water has filled the anchor well faster than it can drain and stared to flow out the two holes where the electrics run through for the winch. Hole plugged, we start bailing as we have over three tones of water in the bilge. Kylie is now looking really green and she asks if she can lie down. It took about 2 hours to bail the boat out.

Crisis over, but everything is now really damp down below. Our tacking angles are dreadful in winds over 35knts so our progress is now really slow. Another really big gust hits, and Kylie is starting to look freaked out, so we decide to motor sail under triple reefed main only, the last 20nm (30nm Tacking). Motoring directly into the wind is really bad and slow (at 2knots) so we tack back out to sea. It is now pitch black outside, as dark as I have ever seen, so its makes every thing sound worse, but the engine has really helped our pointing ability and the boat has really settled down apart from the occasional big slam. 4 hours to go.

Kylie manages to get a little sleep while I tack us up the coast. 1 Hour before reaching Port Davey we pass another boat. I can't believe someone else is out here in this. GPS and radar in combination are a fantastic tool as we enter Port Davey and anchor in Whalers Cove (43 17S, 145 55E) at two in the morning. We sleep up the back as the whole front seems wet.

I'm back up at 8 after fitful sleep, and the breeze has swung further to the north and strengthened. We are now exposed so we move into the Bathurst Channel, trying to find shelter. We check out a few anchorages but are not quite happy with them so head allot further than expected all the way into Bathurst Harbour anchoring off Kings Point. The harbour itself is part of a huge national park that takes up this corner of Tasmania. We are isolated, only walkers or other yachts could be here and we are sure it is beautiful if we could see further than 400 meters.

The wind is still increasing, it is starting to get scary again. We register a gust at 56.8 knots, and we are sure our wind gauge under reads after the flinders cruise. Water flies through the air and the gusts just knock us over sideways when they hit from a different direction. I remember seeing a photo of a yacht anchored in extreme weather in Antarctica. wow was my first thought. The water is white, the boat is heeled over, and there is a mist in the air that is the tops of the waves airborne. I remember thinking his anchor must be good (the caption said 45knts).



I am really starting to hope our anchor is good, if we lose our protection under this shore its only going to get allot worse.

18:20 we sit down to dinner, the wind is constantly over 35knts and we listen to the weather forecast, " the low west of Tasmania has suddenly intensified and a hurricane warning has been issued for the south west. Winds of 60 to 70 knots are expected" What the!!!!! I have heard of strong wind and gale force warnings, but hurricane. If that does not put the fear of god into someone I don't know what would. Shit I hope the anchor is good.

Up on deck we go. I increase the scope to over 15 to 1 and we start to strip everything off deck trying to reduce our windage. Just lowering the boom onto the cabin top and Jura seems allot more settled. We prepare the insides as if we are sailing offshore and the yacht feels a little cluttered for the extra gear down below. We set out wet weather gear and make plans in case the anchor lets go.

We watch a movie to try to calm down. It is somewhat distracting, (a pretty good love movie, "The Wedding Date"), before heading to bed and trying to sleep. The wind is now howling outside and the rain hits the boat so hard it sounds like someone has a plastic garbage bag inside your ear and they are constantly scrunching it over and over. The boat wanders from side to side with each gust dropping off the hill from a different spot. We heel over with each gust that hits us a little side on. We both spend half the night griping the edge of the bed. Just as you think you may relax and nod off, you here another one coming and then the yacht heels over. It is actually calming to feel the anchor yank back hard when the yacht gets hit side on by a gust. The noise of the snubber moving in its roller lets you know the anchor still has grip.

At 2 in the morning the anchor alarm goes off. Shit,we're up in a flash and checking the plotter. We have not let go, we have just rotated with the breeze, now blowing directly from the west. We try to calm back down and are back in bed. It is loud outside and we just want the night to be over. The wind has thrown some pots round the cabin so I am back up at 3 to put them back away.

At 5 the wind starts to drop. 35knots, 25knts, and then stays there. We finally get a little sleep. I am still a little fretful so I am back up at 8, much to Kylie's surprise and checking over and cleaning up the boat before hopping back into bed.

It blows for the rest of the day.
Thank goodness for Kylie's careful reading of the cruising guide and picking this spot for us. It says the grip at Kings Point is great and we would definitely agree with that. We did not slip at all over the night. The plotter shows us swinging a perfect arc. We don't know what kind of mud it is here but it is good and we are grateful we did not have to go to plan B. We registered 60knots during the night, but I will have to check to see at what our gauge max's out at.

We also hope that everyone else is OK.
The Forties roared, and personally, we would not like to see that again.
Sleep, we need some sleep.
And some sun and warmth would be nice to. Its time to head north.
We did get some pictures so just wait.

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